Vitamins & Minerals

Question 1

Vitamin A

Answer 1

Function: visual pigment, antioxidant, tissue differentiation
Deficiency: night blindness, dry scaly skin, alopecia, corneal degeneration, squamous metaplasia, immune system inhibition
Overdose: arthralgias, skin changes, alopecia, cerebral edema, osteoperosis, liver dysfunction, teratogen

Question 2

Thiamine (vitamin B1)

Answer 2

Function: in thiamine pyrophosphate - a cofactor in dehydrogenase reactions (TCA cycle, HMP shunt)
Deficiency: impaired glucose breakdown and ATP depletion > Wernicke-Korsakoff, dry beriberi (polyneuritis, muscle wasting), wet beriberi (high output cardiac failure)

Question 3

Riboflavin (vitamin B2)

Answer 3

Function: component of FAD and FMN - cofactors in redox reactions (TCA cycle)
Deficiency: cheliosis, corneal vascularization (2 Cs)

Question 4

Niacin (vitamin B3)

Answer 4

Function: component of NAD and NADP; derived from tryptophan and synthesis requires B2 and B6
Deficiency: glossitis, pellagra (diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis)
Overdose: flushing, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia

Question 5

Pantothenate (vitamin B5)

Answer 5

Function: component of coenzyme A, required for acyl transfers and fatty acid synthesis
Deficiency: dermatitis, enteritis, alopecia, adrenal insufficiency

Question 6

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)

Answer 6

Function: converted to pyridoxal phosphate, a cofactor in transamination, decarboxylation, glycogen phosphorylase, synthesis of many NTs, heme, histamine, niacin
Deficiency: convulsions, hyperirritability, peripheral neuropathy, sideroblastic anemia

Question 7

Biotin (vitamin B7)

Answer 7

Function: co-factor for carboxylation enzymes
Deficiency: dermatitis, alopecia, enteritis; caused by eating too many egg whites

Question 8

Folic acid (vitamin B9)

Answer 8

Function: converted to THF - important for the synthesis of nitrogenous bases
Deficiency: macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia with hypersegmented PMNs, glossitis

Question 9

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Answer 9

Function: co-factor for homocysteine methyltransferase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase
Deficiency: macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia with hypersegmented PMNs + paresthesias, subacute combined degeneration

Question 10

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Answer 10

Function: antioxidant, hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis, conversion of dopamine to NE, aids in iron absorption
Deficiency: scurvy (swollen gums, bruising, hemarthrosis, anemia, poor wound healing, perifollicular and subperiosteal hemorrhages)
Overdose: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, Ca nephrolithiasis

Question 11

Vitamin D

Answer 11

Function: intestinal absorption of Ca and phosphate, bone mineralization
Deficiency: rickets or osteomalacia, hypocalcemic tetany
Overdose: hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, loss of appetite, stupor

Question 12

Vitamin E (tocopherol)

Answer 12

Function: antioxidant
Deficiency: hemolytic anemia, acanthocytosis, muscle weakness, posterior column and spinocerebellar demyelination

Question 13

Vitamin K

Answer 13

Function: co-factor in gamma carboxylation of glutamic acid residues on clotting factors II, VII, IX, X, proteins C and S
Deficiency: neonatal hemorrhage

Question 14

Zinc

Answer 14

Function: essential for 100+ enzymes
Deficiency: delayed wound healing, hypogonadism, dysgeusia (loss of taste), anosmia, acrodermatitis enteropathica (scaly, red lesions)